Mass drug administration for Lymphatic Filariasis set to begin in Odisha on August 10

Bhubaneswar, Aug 9: The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, will conduct a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis from August 10 to August 19.

To prepare for this initiative, a media sensitization workshop was held on today at the Directorate of Public Health’s conference hall. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the debilitating effects of Lymphatic Filariasis and provide accurate information about the disease.

Dr. Nilakantha Mishra, Director of Public Health Odisha, outlined the details of the MDA program. He emphasized India’s commitment to eradicating filariasis by 2030 and explained that the Government of Odisha, as part of the National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program, will conduct MDA rounds in 11 districts—Angul, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Sundargarh. The program, which coincides with the second round of the National De-Worming (NDD) Programme, will be implemented in 197 Implementation Units (IUs) using a triple drug therapy of DEC, Albendazole, and Ivermectin. Exemptions will be made for children under two years, pregnant women, and seriously ill individuals.

Dr. Bijaya Ku Mohapatra, Director of Health Services, Odisha, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts and resource mobilization to achieve filariasis elimination. High-risk areas will receive focused attention, with ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, SHGs, and other volunteers administering the drugs directly to households. The goal is to ensure at least 90% of the target population consumes the medication under supervision.